The Department for Environment and Water has announced applications are now open for two new grant programs: Nature-based Tourism Small Grants and Heritage Tourism Grants.

These grant programs will support tourism businesses to leverage SA’s iconic nature and heritage to create new and enhanced experiences that encourage visitors to spend more time enjoying our state’s special places.

The $300,000 Nature‐based Tourism Small Grants program is aligned with the successful Nature‐based Tourism Co-investment Fund.

Grants from $2,000 – $15,000 are available for small-scale and innovative projects to support nature-based tourism activation in SA’s national parks, gardens, reserves, reservoirs and Crown land. This could include creating new or enhancing existing tourism experiences including seasonal or pop-up experiences, as well as tourism/regional events in parks and public places.

The Small Grants program will provide funding to get ideas off the ground, without the need to provide matching cash funds, which is a requirement for larger grants under the Nature‐based Tourism Co-investment Fund.

The $250,000 Heritage Tourism Grants program will accelerate the development of heritage tourism experiences and stimulate investment into heritage places.

Grants of up to $50,000, provided on a matched funding basis, will support projects that enable the activation and use of State or Local heritage-listed places or State Heritage Areas for tourism purposes.

Projects do not have to be directly connected to the physical conservation of heritage fabric or values. The program is a key initiative of Growing Our Heritage Future the State Government’s 10-year strategy for heritage tourism

How to apply
Applications for both grant programs are now open and close at 2pm on Friday 3 December 2021.

Go to the tourism grant website and read the detailed information about the grants programs, including eligibility criteria and the information you need to supply when submitting an application.

Join the Tourism Grants webinar
The department is partnering with the Tourism Industry Council South Australia to provide guidance to businesses, organisations and property owners interested in applying for a grant.

A free 1 hour webinar providing an overview of the grants and available resources to support the development of successful applications is being held on Tuesday 2 November 2021 at 10:00am. To attend register here.

Further information, including application forms, can be found on the tourism grants website or by emailing DEWtourism@sa.gov.au